Abstract

Chaotic phenomena of a periodic ion-acoustic solitons system that is composed of a series of ion-acoustic solitons have been observed in a double-plasma device. Periodic ion-acoustic solitons become unstable by the energy gain and energy loss of the solitons, and they become chaotic. Taking account of a pair of solitons in the system, the front soliton gains energy from the reflected ions from the rear soliton, which is controllable by the rear soliton amplitude or the interval between the solitons. The energy loss of solitons results from collisions with neutral particles that vary with changing gas pressure.